Student achievement is influenced by efficacy, a construct linked to behaviors that promote learning. The researcher investigated the strength of the relationships between teacher, principal, and collective efficacy at middle schools within a metropolitan area that received Outstanding Oregon State Report Card ratings for 2010-2011. Teachers and principals completed questionnaires to assess their beliefs about executing specific academic and behavioral tasks. The survey instruments were previously validated. Responses to open-ended questions provided insights into practices that develop efficacy. It was hypothesized that teachers and principals would report strong senses of individual and collective efficacy. Findings showed a moderate relationship between teacher and collective efficacy and a moderate relationship between academic efficacy beliefs and behavioral efficacy beliefs at the teacher and collective levels. The middle schools with higher levels of teacher, collective, and principal efficacy were characterized by collaborative cultures focused on improving instruction and leadership that promoted collaboration and growth.

The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between training performance and self–efficacy using a longitudinal design (approximately 11 weeks) in the context of massed and distributed practice. Limited attention in the training performance and efficacy literature has been paid to the spacing of practice (massed and distributed). However, it is conceivable that both the spacing of practice as well as the time frames over which it operates could influence the performance and efficacy relationship. Based on the practice schedule (massed versus distributed) and longitudinal study design, it was posited that the nature of the performance and efficacy relationship is likely to be quite different during two phases of learning (acquisition and reacquisition). Data were obtained from 198 undergraduate students over an 11–week training protocol using a 2 (distributed versus massed acquisition) × 2 (distributed versus massed reacquisition) × 16 (session) mixed design. Contrary to the first set of hypotheses, results indicated that the performance and efficacy relationship did not vary as a function of practice protocols (massed versus distributed) during acquisition and reacquisition. Also, no support was found for the hypothesis that the performance and efficacy relationship will vary as a function of whether the practice condition during acquisition is the same or different from the practice condition during reacquisition such that the relationships will be stronger when the practice condition is the same as opposed to when it is different. However, support was found for the hypothesis that when past performance is controlled the unique contribution of self–efficacy to subsequent task performance will be attenuated. Implications of these findings for research on the performance and efficacy relationship and training practice are discussed.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1995. / Chairperson: E. Scott Geller. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships among teacher selfefficacy, trust, and collective efficacy among teachers in a southwest Texas school district. The research included three established surveys combined to create a single survey. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to analyze the data from the survey. The study analyzed the results of surveys completed by 746 teachers. The surveys completed were the Teachers’ Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale, Collective Efficacy Scale, and Omnibus T-Scale. Factors considered in the analysis of data included gender, number of years of experience, ethnicity, and the level of mentorship provided. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to assess if differences exist in the Teachers’ Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale subscales of student engagement, instructional strategies, classroom management, Omnibus T-Scale subscale of trust in principal, trust in colleagues, trust in clients, and collective efficacy between schools. The results suggest that simultaneous differences exist in dependent variables between schools. However, further analysis also showed all schools with the exception of one scored higher than 84 percent of the standardized school sample in trust in students’ ability to perform. In comparing survey responses across teacher demographics, results showed gender differences in trust in principal, trust in clients, and collective efficacy. When comparing the responses to national averages, the results were as follows: self-efficacy showed patterns that were below average, trust showed patterns that were above average, and collective efficacy was average. This research study contributes to the theoretical rationale explaining the relationship between self-efficacy, collective efficacy, and trust. Further research could be done in the area for school administrators to improve student achievement through working to raise collective efficacy beliefs and trust of their faculty.

In this research, a model of teachers’ efficacy posed by Tschannen-Moran, Woolfolk-Hoy, and Hoy (1998) is considered with regard to teachers’ use of standardized assessment data. This study is timely because teachers are expected to utilize standardized test scores, but they are often underprepared for this task. As a result of minimal experiences, teachers require in-service opportunities that develop their efficacy and knowledge toward standardized assessment. This proposal provides an opportunity for such experiences, and assesses the impact of a professional development activities designed to foster teachers’ assessment efficacy and knowledge. Last, for considerations pertaining to program evaluation, this report will explore the relevance of using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) as an alternative statistical procedure. / text

The study examined the effectiveness of a motivational package developed based on the components of the temporal motivational theory on reducing the participants’ tendency to procrastinate. Characteristics of a sample of 308 junior secondary school students (formed 14 groups) were matched and randomly assigned (in group unit) into treatment and control conditions. Through watching a video in a workshop, the treatment group learned the skills to reduce procrastination while the control group learned relaxation skills. Participants then completed an assignment in 10 school days after the intervention workshop to apply the strategies they have learnt. Results indicated that participants who received the intervention package showed significantly less behavioral procrastination than those who did not. Implications of the findings were discussed. / published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The experimental study examined how different types of praise moderated the effect of normative information on students’ self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation when they face challenges. Two hundred and Fifty Form 1 and 2 students (114 females, 136 males) were randomly assigned to six different conditions, using a 2 (Normative information: with normative information, without normative information) X 3 (Praise: ability praise, effort praise, no praise) between-groups design. Students first worked on a logical reasoning task and received a bogus quantitative feedback of a high score (8 out of 10) and a written qualitative feedback according to their assigned conditions. Students then did a similar but more challenging task and checked their scores before completing measures of self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. Self-reported measure showed that after facing setbacks, students receiving effort praise and normative information in the first task indicated significantly lower self-efficacy than the students only receiving effort praise. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Keywords: effort praise, ability praise, / published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The current investigation provides a preliminary investigation of the "imposed networks" (adults with whom youth interact, but were not necessarily chosen) of youth aged 8 to 12. Also evaluated was the relative influence of parents and teachers on youths' feelings of self-efficacy. Youth reported on levels of warmth, psychological control and decisionmaking at home and at school. Self-efficacy was assessed by both youth and parent report. Results indicated that the emotional climate provided by parents was more influential on girls' feelings of self-efficacy than boys, and that higher warmth was negatively associated with boys' feelings of self-efficacy. Teacher psychological control was consistently negatively related to youths' feelings of self-efficacy. No evidence was found for either additive or interactive effects of home and school environments. Instead, the pattern of results suggested that youth benefit from moderate to high levels of parental warmth, when teachers provide levels of warmth that are either equally high or lower than parents.

This quantitative study used Astin's I-E-O theory to explore the relationship between a college freshman's high school background and academic self-efficacy. The Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement was used to measure academic self-efficacy across four types of high schools. Student gender and precollege experiences (dual-credit and communication assertiveness) were used as control. A total of 15,400 first-year students were included in this study. An ANOVA was used to examine the differences between groups, and ordinary least-square analysis was used to study the factors that affect academic self-efficacy. Results showed statistically significant difference in academic self-efficacy between public and private religious high school graduates. Specifically, graduates of public high schools had statistically higher academic self-efficacy than graduates of private religious high schools (p < .001). Additionally, females and participants of dual-credit courses also tended to have higher academic self-efficacy. Finally, analysis revealed that a first-year student's communication confidence is highly correlated to their academic self-efficacy. Results confirm in-coming first-year students perceive higher education engagement differently based on traits attributed to their precollege experiences. Results point to criteria colleges may be able to use in identifying freshmen at risk for low academic self-efficacy and, therefore, for problems in retention and degree completion.